TUNES
Welcome to Tunes From Doolin !
The tunes you will find on this website are a collection of Irish Traditional Music tunes I have learned over the years in Doolin, from various sessions, friends and some recordings too.
All the tunes are written in ABC format and come in sheet music format as well. I am also hoping to be able to record as many tunes as possible in the near future and to post them here as well as on the YouTube channel (feel free to subscribe to the channel here!).
The tunes are divided into 4 main categories :
- Reels : The most common type of tunes, especially here in Co. Clare.
- Jigs : This category regroups Jigs, Slip Jigs, Hop Jigs, etc.
- Hornpipes : Another common type of dance tunes here in County Clare.
- Other Tunes : A collection of different types of tunes including Barndances, Slides, Polkas, Marches, Setdances, etc.
Recent posts

Bird’s (The)
The Bird’s Hornpipe is a tune I learned from Noel O’Donoghue, great flute player from Kilfenora. Hugh Healy also recorded this tune on his wonderful album Ceolaire.

McGivney’s Fancy
McGivney’s Fancy is a hornpipe associated with Éamon McGivney, a great fiddle player from Co. Longford originally but resident of West Clare for many years and one of the directors of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy since the early 1980s.

Kesh Jig (The)
The Kesh Jig is a very common session tune in Irish Traditional Music. One of memory that sticks out is a session with Sean Vaughan and Siobhan Peoples who started the session with this tune and great lift and energy.

Willie Coleman’s
Willie Coleman’s is a very common jig. It was taught to me by my friend Tom Delany, and I also associate this tune with the playing of Kitty Hayes’.

Trip To Birmingham (The)
The Trip To Birmingham is a popular session tune that was composed by flute player Josie McDermott from County Sligo. I first learned this reel from the playing of Colette Coen, a lovely whistle player from Sligo…

Rookery (The)
The Rookery is a great reel that was composed by flute player Vincent Broderick. It is quite a common session tune, which was taught to me by my friend Tom Delany.
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Recent Posts
Random Tunes
Drummond Castle
“Drummond Castle” is a jig that comes from Scotland originally, but I have learned it from John Blake, Lamond Gillespie & Mick Leahy on the amazing album “Traditional Irish Music From London”. It comes after another very nice tune called “The Banks of Newfoundland” and the set has become a favourite with many musicians around Doolin.
Cooley’s Reel
This is a very famous reel associated with Joe Cooley, the great accordion player from Peterswell in Co. Galway. The original title of this tune was “The Tulla Reel” I believe, but it has been known as “Cooley’s Reel” for a long time now, and it is very often followed by “The Wise Maid”.
Christy Barry’s Jig No. 1
“Christy Barry’s Jigs” are well known all over the world, this is the first one. Christy is a great flute and whistle player from Ennistymon, but he has been living in Doolin for many years. I have learned many tunes from Christy, who has always been so generous in the way he shares his music.
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